Brothers Union

Brothers Union () is a professional football club based in Gopibagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It currently competes in the Bangladesh Premier League, the top flight of Bangladeshi Football.

The club was founded in 1949, patroned by local Gopibagh businessmen. Nicknamed the Oranges, Brothers Union spent the late 70s and early 80s as one of the pioneers of Bangladeshi football, behind Abahani Limited Dhaka and Dhaka Mohammedan. Throughout their history, Brothers Union have built a reputation for spotting and developing young talent, especially during the club's legendary coach Abdul Gafur Baloch's regime from 1972 to 1986.

The club earned promotions from the Dhaka Third Division Football League and Dhaka Second Division Football League in 1973 and 1974, respectively. They entered the First Division in 1975, however, had to wait till the 2003–04 season to win their first league title. Their second league triumph came in the following season, in 2005. The club has also found success at continental level, jointly winning the 1981–82 edition of the Aga Khan Gold Cup, becoming the first and only local club to win the tournament since the Independence of Bangladesh.

Brothers Union were one of the founding members of the Bangladesh Premier League in 2007. They remained in the professional league, until facing relegation at the end of 2021–22 Premier League. The club withdrew from the second-tier, the Championship League in the following season and eventually gained promotion back to the top-flight as champions of the 2022–23 Championship League.

History

Foundation

The club was founded in 1949 and the regal business tycoon Kazi Ghiyasuddin Ahmed, better known as K. G. Ahmed served as the founder chairman, while the former Minister of Education of East Pakistan, the late Zahiruddin and eminent journalist A. B. M. Musa were the first president and general secretary of the club respectively. At the beginning it was a well-known cultural organization. However, during the 1971 Liberation war, Brothers Union shut down all club activities. In 1972, a few months after the war had reached its conclusion and resulted in Bangladesh's independence, Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, one of the clubs founding members, had his younger brother Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim recruit veteran football coach Abdul Gafur Baloch, with the idea of re-entering divisional football Dhaka.

In 1972, Gafur Baloch started holding trails for Brothers Union Youth team, mainly consisting of high school students in Gopibag. Throughout the 70s Baloch's youth team would open a pathway for many future national team stars, including the club's midfield linchpin Hasanuzzaman Bablu and also their best ever player Mohammed Mohsin. In 1973, Mohsin got a chance to play for the main team, when Brothers resumed playing in the Dhaka Third Division League after the war. The teenage striker scored 39 goals, including a hat-trick and a double hat-trick leading Brothers to promotion as undefeated champions. The following year, he scored 22 goals in the Dhaka Second Division League, as Brothers secured consecutive promotions again as undefeated champions, booking their place in the 1975 First Division.

During the early years of its rebirth, the club suffered from a major financial crisis due to the war. Although Brothers resumed all football activities in 1973, the first residential camp of Brothers Union was held at the 48 Ramakrishna Mission Road, Gopibagh, while the club was still playing in the second division league, in 1974. The four-storey building belonged to Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, and Selim who was given the team's captaincy, persuaded his brother to let the players camp in the two flats on the ground floor without having to pay rent. A stable source of funding was eventually provided by Sadeque Hossain Khoka, a former mayor and minister of Dhaka, who served as the club's general secretary from 1972 to 1979.

The Emerging Giant

In 1975, Brothers entered the Dhaka First Division League, and in their inaugural league game the club defeated reigning champions Abahani Krira Chakra 1–0, with a goal from Titu. The victory earned Brothers huge admiration from both media and local supporters. During the first phase of the league the club only lost a single game (to Mohammedan SC), and soon became one of the big names in the league. The late 70s saw the clubs attacking duo of Mohammed Mohsin and Hasanuzzaman Bablu establish themselves as one of best in the league, while few of their unsung heroes were left-back Noman Nannu, midfielder Abdus Salam and striker Fazlu, who were all products of their youth team. In 1978 the club finished the season as runner-up behind Abahani. In 1979, Gafur Baloch introduced teenage winger Khandoker Wasim Iqbal to the Dhaka football scene, who scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Mohammedan SC in the league.

The year 1979, was a disappointing one for the club, suffering heavy defeats in the Aga Khan Gold Cup at the hands of BJIC and the Afghanistan XI. Brothers had to wait till 1980 to enjoy their first major trophy success as they shared the first edition of the Federation Cup title with Mohammedan SC, after the final ended 0–0. Later in the season, they defeated the Black and Whites 3–2 in a league encounter, thanks mainly to their talisman goal-scorer, Mohammed Mohsin. This was also Mohammedan's only defeat that year, as they went on to win the league title. The first half of the 1980s saw some new faces in the team, goalkeeper Atiqur Rahman, defenders Shafiqul Islam Manik, Mazidul Islam Moni and Azmat Ali were regulars in the team. While midfielder Mosaddek and striker Mahmudul Haque Liton soon made their way into the Bangladesh national team. In 1981, Mohammed Mohsin enjoyed his best top-flight season, becoming top-scorer with 20 goals.

It was later in 1981, at the Aga Khan Gold Cup where The Oranges achieved their biggest success, by becoming the first Bangladeshi team after independence to win the title. They cruised through the group-stage, to face the tournament favourites the Oman, surprisingly winning 3–1, with goals from Wasim Iqbal, Bablu and Fazlu. In the final against Bangkok Bank, the underdogs equalised through Monwar Babu with the game ending 1–1, the two teams were declared join champions. However, the title triumph was followed by a number of setbacks, as long-term serving defender Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim announced his retirement and coach Gafur Baloch, also ended his decade-long career with Brothers. In 1982, the clubs marksmen Mohsin was severely injured by a cracker while playing an exhibition game. In 1984, the injured Mohsin became player cum coach, and guided the club into making Bangladesh domestic football history by defeating Dilkusha SC 15–0 in the league.

Title Collapse & New Generation

In 1985, coach Ali Imam who lead Abahani to consecutive league titles the previous year joined the Oranges. Imam was forced out by Abahani officials who appointed Kazi Salahuddin as their head coach. Notably, the Dhaka Metropolitan Football Committee had introduced the 3 point system in the league the previous season, and at that time the system was only used in England. With Imam determined for revenge, his side were unbeaten in the first phase of the league and were 2 points ahead of Mohammedan, and five points ahead of Abahani. However, in the Super league Brothers dropped points, and went into their final league match, against Abahani knowing that a victory would see them win the league. Even after taking 2–0 lead early on in the game, the Oranges lost the match 3–2, ending hopes for their maiden First Division title. The clubs all time top scorer Mohsin who played limited games after his injury in 1982, retired at the end of the season.

In 1986, Gafur Baloch returned to Brothers and brought with him a young Monem Munna from Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Munna guided an average Brothers team to a third place finish and left for Abahani the next year, while Baloch also announced his retirement at the end of the season. With Baloch's retirement, the clubs famous youth team barely functioned, resulting in a decline of quality players coming out of the club. In 1991, Brothers found their first solo success by winning the Federation Cup under former player turned coach Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim. During the tournament the Oranges captained by Nurul Haque Manik, kept a strong defence marshalled by Arif Hossain Moon. In the semi-final Brothers thrashed Fakirerpool Young Men's Club 3–0, setting up the final with Mohammedan who themselves had won a Dhaka Derby semi-final on penalties. The well anticipated final went to penalties after a goalless draw, where Brothers won 4–2.

Brothers made their AFC competition debut by participating in the 1992–93 Asian Club Championship qualifiers as the 1991 Federation Cup winners. They were eliminated in the first round after suffering an aggregate 0–2 defeat to Pakistani club Wohaib FC. In 1993, following the introduction of the Premier Division, a gentlemen's agreement was established between Brothers, Abahani, and Mohammedan to reduce player wages and refrain from recruiting players from one another, this opened an opportunity for Muktijoddha Sangsad to sign their top players on a higher wage, although it did not affect the other two teams as much as it did Brothers, as the club struggled to remain in the top-flight. In the 1995 Lifebuoy Premier League, the Oranges finished 8th, only five points clear of the drop. The club would not make the top three again until the turn of the century.

Champions of Bangladesh

In 2004, the Brothers club authorities brought in Syed Nayeemuddin from India, as the clubs coach cum technical advisor. The team manager Amer Khan also kept former Brothers midfielder Abu Noman Nannu, as the second head coach. The strong coaching staff was accompanied with the signings of regular national team players including Arman Mia, Alfaz Ahmed, Mohammed Sujan and Biplob Bhattacharjee. Nonetheless, The Oranges were eliminated in the first round of the season's curtain raiser, the Federation Cup. Amidst all the doubt that team would go on to create history by winning the clubs inaugural Premier Division title, with Alfaz Ahmed and Arman Mia establishing one of the best attacking partnerships in the league. In the last game of the season against Muktijoddha Sangsad, winger Monwar Hossain scored the only goal to end the clubs 29-years wait for the league title. They dedicated their top-tier league triumph to their former coach, the late Abdul Gafur Baloch.

The club followed their inaugural league triumph, by winning the 2004 National Football League. Arman Mia and Alfaz Ahmed's goals in the semi-final against Abahani Limited set up an underdog final between Brothers and Muktijoddha KSC, which The Oranges eventually won 2–4 on penalties, due to substitute goalkeeper Mohammed Ali's heroics. Towards the end of that year, Brothers won the Bordoloi Trophy in India, defeating Shillong XI 1–0 in the final, this was also the clubs first international achievement. In 2005, veteran football coach Wazed Gazi took over from Nayeemuddin as the clubs head coach. He led The Oranges to the Federation Cup title after 14 years, in front of a 10,000-strong crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, which mainly consisted of Brothers fans. Moroccan striker Adil Okero scored the lone goal against Muktijodda Sangsad to clinch the title, while goalkeeper Atiqul Islam Tareq also produced a man of the match performance.

In wake of their first National League triumph in 2004, Brothers took part in the 2005 AFC Cup. Striker Saiful Islam Khokon scored their inaugural goal in the competition, during a 1–1 draw with Turkmen club Nisa Aşgabat. However, Brothers were knocked out of the group-stages after failing to win any of their other two fixtures. After a disappointing continental campaign, Wazi Gazi's team bounced back by winning the Premier Division title for the consecutive time, while the clubs Russian striker Edward Victor was also the leagues top scorer. With the league introducing a Championship Playoff match that season, Brothers faced Mohammedan in the title deciding game, and captain Mohammed Sujan scored the game's only goal from the penalty spot.

After winning the domestic double in 2005, The Oranges qualified for the 2006 AFC Cup. However, they disappointed in the tournament, and only claimed two points from six games. They opened the tournament with a 2–0 defeat to Bahrain champions Al-Muharraq SC, and in the next match tied 2–2 with India's Federation Cup winners Mahindra United, with goals from Zahid Hasan Ameli and Abul Hossain. In the next couple of games Brothers were thrashed by the Lebanese champions Al Ahed FC, 1–3 and 2–6 respectively. They ended their AFC Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Al-Muharraq and a 0–1 defeat at the hands of Mahindra United, to finish bottom of their group with a −9 goal difference. The holders were also knocked out of the semi-finals of the 2005–06 National Football League by Mohammedan. During the semi-finals, club secretary Sabbir Ahmed Arif assaulted assistant referee Shahidul Islam Lalu and referee Tayeb Shamsuzzaman. The incident occurred just before the final whistle, after Brothers midfielder Rezaul Karim Liton attacked the referee upon receiving a second yellow card and being sent off.

Steady decline

In preparation for the 2007 B.League, the inaugural edition of the country's first professional football league, Brothers secured contracts with veterans Amit Khan Shuvra, Jewel Rana, Masoud Rana, Monwar Hossain, and Rezaul Karim Liton. Nonetheless, the club lost many integral players from their consecutive league title triumphs to Dhaka Abahani, while coach Wazed Gazi also departed for Sheikh Russel KC. The club re-appointed Indian head coach Syed Nayeemuddin, who previously led them to their first National League and Premier Division titles in 2004. On 3 March 2007, Brothers defeated Chittagong Abahani 3–0 in their maiden professional league match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The club's Nigerian recruit Junior Obagbemiro scored a brace, while local striker Ashraful Quader Monju scored the third goal. The club ended the season in fifth position, with striker Junior Obagbemiro clinching the top-scorer's award with 16 league goals.

The following season, Brothers appointed club legend Khandoker Wasim Iqbal as head coach and managed to rope in former captain Mohammed Sujan on a contract worth Tk 10 lakh. Nonetheless, the club finished fourth that season, with 10 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats from 20 league games. Nigerian striker, Henry Quae, was the club's top scorer in the league with six goals followed by 20-year old winger Zahid Hossain, who scored five league goals. Brothers also disappointed at the Federation Cup, as they failed to qualify from their group which included Third Division League club BKSP and Senior Division League club Victoria SC.

Brothers began the 2009 season by participating in the inaugural Bangladesh Super Cup. The club under Wasim Iqbal's second season as coach, crashed out of the semi-finals after suffering a 3–2 defeat to Dhaka Abahani. Eventually, the Oranges won the third-place decider 3–1 against Chittagong Mohammedan. Before the 2009–10 Bangladesh League began, Brothers, lost their star players, Zahid Hossain, Rezaul Karim Liton and Shakil Ahmed along with many other starters. Their new squad for the league was eventually selected by coach Wasim Iqbal through trials held at their Gopibagh training ground. The team consisting of rookies finished the league season in seventh position, and were only six points clear of relegation. The club were also knocked out from the group-stages of the Federation Cup.

From 2010 onward, the Oranges consistently failed to secure a top-three finish in the Premier League. On August 5, 2012, club manager Amer Khan claimed on Ekattor TV that Brothers Union had been compelled to play a fixed match against eventual champions Abahani Limited Dhaka on May 26 during the 2012 Bangladesh Premier league, though he later stated his comments were taken out of context following pressure from the Bangladesh Football Federation. In 2017, Brothers Union assembled a team worth Tk 1.4 crore and appointed Indian coach Subrata Bhattacharya Jr., but they only managed a seventh-place finish. The following season, under coach Syed Nayeemuddin, the team narrowly avoided relegation from the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League, surviving by a single point.

Relegation, promotion & rejuvenation

On 17 August 2021, Brothers Union lost by 4–0 goals against Muktijoddha Sangsad KC which confirmed the club's relegation from the 2020–21 Bangladesh Premier League. This ended their 45-year stint in the top flight of Bangladeshi football and marked the first time in the club's history that they suffered relegation. During the season, Brothers Union, along with Arambagh KS, were suspected of engaging in match-fixing by the Asian Football Confederation. However, while Arambagh were penalized by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Brothers were declared innocent by the BFF. The following season, the club chose not to participate in the 2021–22 Bangladesh Championship League, with Amer Khan stating that the Oranges had failed to prepare adequately due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The club confirmed their return to the top-flight, after winning the 2022–23 Bangladesh Championship League under local coach Zahidur Rahman Milon. The Oranges finished the season with sixteen victories out of twenty league games and were five points ahead of second-place, BFF Elite Academy. Following their return to the top flight, the club signed six players from the BFF Elite Academy during the BFF Players Auction 2023. However, due to a disagreement with the BFF over player salaries, the Oranges were unable to secure the players' services until the league's second leg. The club ultimately finished at the bottom of the table in the 2023–24 Bangladesh Premier League and faced relegation. However, following the Non-cooperation movement in August 2024, the BFF decided against relegating the club due to the financial difficulties faced by the majority of top-flight teams at the time.

Following the fall of the Awami League on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh Nationalist Party member Ishraque Hossain, son of Sadeque Hossain Khoka, formed a 22-member convening committee, with himself serving as the convener and Sabbir Hossain as the member secretary. Following this takeover, the club roped in twenty eight new players, including Bangladesh national team captain, Jamal Bhuyan.

Facilities

Training ground

The Brothers Union field in Gopibagh, has been an integral part to their success, as they are one of the few clubs in the country to have a training ground of their own. In 1977, when the field was owned by Bangladesh Bank, some of the clubs players were jailed for taking possession of the ground. In order to gain the Gopibagh field's ownership, the clubs general secretary, Sadeque Hossain Khoka had to bring the country's president Lt. General Ziaur Rahman to the field. The president then stood on the field and announced (). Although Bangladesh Bank, later tried hard to reclaim the Gopibagh field's ownership, they were unsuccessful due to the president's decision. It is also the largest practice ground used by a professional football club in Dhaka. In May 2023, Bangladesh Bank clashed again with Brothers over the possession of the ground, as the club prevented the bank from constructing walkways around the field, stating that it would increase the risk of injuries for players. In September 2024, Sabbir Ahmed Arif, member secretary of the club's convening committee elected on 17 August 2024, following the Non-cooperation movement, assured that the club had desires of renovating the ground with state-of-the-art facilities for both football and cricket.

Youth team

The Gopibagh-based, Little Friends Club and Bangladesh Boys Club, are regarded as the second-string teams of Brothers Union, with players often being nurtured there before making their move to the Oranges.

Crest and colours

Brothers_Union_Ltd_official_logo.png, Old club crest used from 1949–2024.

Current squad

Current technical staff

Coaching staff

Board of directors

Coaching records

Coaching history

:Interim or caretaker coaches are listed in ''italics''.

* Gafur Baloch (1972–83)
* Mohammed Mohsin (1984)
* Ali Imam (1985)
* Gafur Baloch (1986)
* Enayetur Rahman (1987)
* Kazi Salahuddin (1988–89)
* Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim (1991–00)
* S M Abu Noman Nannu (2001–04)
* Syed Nayeemuddin (2003–04)
* Wazed Gazi (2005–06)
* Khandoker Wasim Iqbal (2007–11)
* Syed Nayeemuddin (2011–12)
* Ladi Babalola (2012–13)
* Mohidur Rahman Miraz (2013)
* Syed Nayeemuddin (2013–15)
* Bal Gopal Maharjan (2016)
* Syed Nayeemuddin (2016)
* Subrata Bhattacharya Jr. (2017)
* Giovanni Scanu (2017)
* Nicolas Vitorović (2017–18)
* Gregory Farfan (2018)
* Syed Nayeemuddin (2018–19)
* Mohidur Rahman Miraz (2019)
* Reza Parkas (2019–20)
* Abdul Qaium Sentu (2020–21)
* Reza Parkas (2021)
* Sheikh Zahidur Rahman Milon (2022–23)
* '' Faisal Mahmud'' (2023)
* Omar Sisse (2024)
* ''Ali Asgar Nasir'' (2024)
* Azmol Hossain Biddyut (2024)
* Omar Sisse (2024–)

Head coach's record

Season by season record

Performance in AFC competitions

* Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
:: 1992–93: First Round

* AFC Cup: 2 appearances
::2005: Group Stage
::2006: Group Stage

Results

Honours

League

*Bangladesh Championship League
**Champions (1): 2022–23
* Dhaka Premier Division League
**Champions (2): 2003–04, 2005
* National League
**Champions (1): 2004
* Dhaka Second Division League
**Champions (1): 1974
* Dhaka Third Division League
**Champions (1): 1973

Cup

* Federation Cup
**Champions (2): 1980 (shared), 1991, 2005
* DMFA Cup
**Champions (1): 1984 (shared)
* Aga Khan Gold CupThe competition is widely regarded as the predecessor of AFC Champions League (held for the first time in 1967), since it was the first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia, organized by the football authorities of East Pakistan, in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
** Champions (1): 1981–82 (shared)

Invitational

* Bordoloi Trophy
**Champions (1): 2004

Notable players

*The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for ''Brothers Union''.

Asia
* Bal Gopal Maharjan (1991–93; 2000–01)
* Hari Khadka (2000–01)
* Basanta Thapa (2000–01)
* Muayad Khalid (2018–19)

Africa
* James Moga (2019)

Notes

References

External links

Brothers Union
at BD League

Brothers Union
at Soccerway

Brothers Union
at Bangladesh Premier League official website

Brothers Union
at Facebook

The glorious days of Brothers Union
at Weekly Blitz

{{Bangladesh Football Premier League

Brothers Union
Association football clubs established in 1949
Football clubs in Bangladesh
1949 establishments in East Bengal